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Press Release: LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland Awarded Transformational Grant from The George Gund Foundatio

Nov 29, 2018

The foundation’s $300,000 gift supports The Center’s goal to serve Cleveland’s thriving LGBTQ+ community in new and innovative ways for years to come.

Press Contact:

Eric Hayes

EHayes@LGBTCleveland.org

(216)651-5428 x 108

11.21.18 – (PRESS RELEASE) – This week, The George Gund Foundation awarded more than $14 million in grants to community partners including the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland. The $300,000 gift marks a significant capital investment in the Center’s expansion.

In 2014, the LGBT Center began fundraising and planning for a brand new, state of the art, accessible, and environmentally-friendly LGBT Community Center facility in Cleveland’s Gordon Square neighborhood. Construction began last fall, and the new Center is slated to open in late Spring. The award from The George Gund Foundation supports construction costs and helps ensure that the facility meets LEED Silver certification standards.

The LGBT Center’s Executive Director, Phyllis Seven Harris, was brimming with excitement at the news of the generous investment, “The George Gund Foundation has once again emerged as one of our strongest partners and allies in the community and we couldn’t be happier to be trusted as stewards of their resources. We’re proud to share a vision of equality, access, and justice for the LGBTQ+ community with The George Gund Foundation, and together, we’re going to make that vision a reality for the greater Cleveland area.”

The new facility will include a visible façade on one of Cleveland’s busiest thoroughfares, in the heart of Gordon Square. Amenities will include private parking, accessible entrances, a fully operational teaching kitchen, plenty of flexible meeting spaces for community events and programs, a cyber center supported by the David Bohnett Foundation,free public WIFI, a large community drop-in space and resource center, a rooftop patio, and durable, lasting construction.

Founded in 1975, The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Center of Greater Cleveland (The Center) is a leading non-profit organization that enriches the lives of the diverse LGBTQ+ community through advocacy, support, education and celebration.

The heart of the region’s LGBTQ+ community, The Center is a one-stop hub that provides opportunities and resources for all who it serves. The Center’s facility is a welcoming and visible space that brings the community together for resources, support, connections and programming. The organization’s highly trained staff offers a range of programs that advance the overall well-being of LGBTQ+ people of all ages. The Center offers supportive services, such as information referrals, social and educational programming, including targeted programs for specific segments of our community, such as youth, young adults, and seniors. The Center also serves as the public face and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. Through leadership within the community, cultural competency training in the local business community, media representation and collaborations, the organization aims to improve the quality of life in Northeast Ohio. The Center collaborates with many area agencies to help extend their reach and improve their ability to serve the LGBTQ+ community. The Center also serves the important role of social connector, hosting year-round gatherings, public events and cultural programs that unite, honor, and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.

Event Details

QYou (Queer Youth Initiative) is a safe and affirming place for LGBTQ youth ages 11-20. Drop in to The Center between 1 PM - 5 PM to work on

Event Details

QYou (Queer Youth Initiative) is a safe and affirming place for LGBTQ youth ages 11-20. Drop in to The Center between 1 PM – 5 PM to work on homework, get resources, use the computer lab, watch a movie, play a game, or check in with our Youth Program Coordinator, Jackson. Stick around after drop-in and participate in the evening program!

Event Details

QYou (Queer Youth Initiative) is a safe and affirming place for LGBTQ youth ages 11-20. Drop in to The Center between 1 PM - 5 PM to work on

Event Details

QYou (Queer Youth Initiative) is a safe and affirming place for LGBTQ youth ages 11-20. Drop in to The Center between 1 PM – 5 PM to work on homework, get resources, use the computer lab, watch a movie, play a game, or check in with our Youth Program Coordinator, Jackson. Stick around after drop-in and participate in the evening program!

Event Details

The Center will be closed from December 24th through January 1st. During this period programs and services will be cancelled. Regular operating hours and programming will resume on Wednesday, January

Event Details

The Center will be closed from December 24th through January 1st. During this period programs and services will be cancelled. Regular operating hours and programming will resume on Wednesday, January 2nd.